The Elegant Vintage Dishware Design That Has Cozy Fall Vibes

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The crisp, cool breeze, the crunch of fallen leaves, and the delightful smell of pumpkin spice all indicate a favorite season for many people — fall. One of our favorite activities happens as well: decorating! This season is the perfect time to make the trendy leaf motif décor work for your home with one of the most unexpected items — glasses. And the best place to get these items is a thrift store, especially when you're searching for a stunning glass brand with gold colors. Libbey's Golden Foliage glassware is the elegant vintage dishware design with cozy fall vibes that thrifters love to discover.

Starting off in 1818 as the New England Glass Company, it eventually became The Libbey Glass Company in 1892. Still producing glassware today, the American-made company specializes in cut glass and different designs, with the popular, best-selling Golden Foliage cups taking off in 1966. As a mid-century favorite, these drinking vessels were considered hostess sets, coming with not only cups, but pitchers, decanters, and sugar and creamer containers. While you may find the glasses on their own, in many cases, they originally came with a gold tray to hold the glasses. 

Before you get your hands on these bad boys, you need to know how to authenticate them through the maker's mark and design. Then, you can seamlessly style it in your home by showcasing it on a display case, using it as part of a table set-up, or setting it in your bar.

The best way to know you have an authentic find is by examining its maker's mark and design. When you find this old-fashioned brand, you may come across three different types of logos, but the one you'll be looking out for on this style is a single circle with a cursive L in the middle. Earlier Libbey maker's marks include double circles around a cursive L and an L inside of a circle broken up into three segments. You'll find these indicators etched on the bottom of the glass. However, it may not be easy to see as etched glass, so shine a flashlight on the bottom or enter a brighter room.

The design on the glass plays a role in discovering the piece you have. Advertised with 22K gold leaves, these natural features grace the cup set on top of a frosty background. Many versions also have gold lines or rims to add even more charm and elegance. While fragile-looking, all versions are chip-resistant; therefore, many authentic ones will be chip-free. While most people may recognize or spot the gold versions, there are also stunning silver renditions. 

Some lucky thrifters may even come across the box or tray instead of single glasses or collections displayed on a surface. When you see a box with a black lid, a large flower on top, and a bottom gold section, you have hit the jackpot. In many cases, the packaging will be damaged after years of protecting the pieces. If you have trouble authenticating your latest thrift find, you may want to reach out to an appraiser or glassware expert.

Once you have these beauties on hand, the fun begins: decorating by displaying them on a shelf, using them in a table setting, or including them in your bar set-up. If you find a full set, you can easily show off your collection all season long by displaying it on a shelf, especially in a dining room or kitchen. To give it extra protection, you can even position it in a display case or curio cabinet for all eyes to see. 

Many homeowners continue to follow one of its most popular original purposes, as part of a table setting, especially for the biggest holiday of the season — Thanksgiving. Golden Foliage pieces easily go with the colors and patterns of autumn, making a statement for everyone who sits at your table. Libbey suggests steering away from hot liquids in these decorated glasses. Once you are done, hand-wash the pieces to preserve the delicate design. 

A cozy way to enhance your bar area during autumn is to set vintage gold-leaf glasses. This is an excellent choice if you have the matching decanter or even a small bar cart. While entertaining guests, make a toast with the gorgeous glassware. Before drinking from any of the glasses, ensure the vintage glass is safe to drink from by using a swab from the AAwipes lead test kit. If it has lead, keep it as décor only or even use it as a vase.